House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 15 Nov 2004 (pt 43)

15 Nov 2004 : Column 1090W—continued

Adoption and Children Act

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to set a Government commencement date for those parts of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 which have not yet been brought into commencement, with special reference to section 112. [187980]

Paul Goggins: My right hon. Friend the Minister for Children, Young People and Families indicated in a written answer on 23 February 2004 that we planned to finalise the regulations, court rules and guidance required to implement the core of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 by the end of 2004 and expected the legislation to come fully into force in September 2005 after a period of preparation and training. Section 112 would be brought into force at the same time as the rest of the Act's main provisions.

During 2004 we have consulted extensively on a range of draft regulations, court rules and guidance. We are reviewing the consultation drafts and the implementation timetable in the light of the comments received. The proposed court rules will shortly be put before the new Family Procedure Rule Committee for consideration. We will announce the specific commencement date later this year when we have finalised our detailed plans for preparation and training on the Act.

Ammonium Nitrate

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many thefts of ammonium nitrate were recorded (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) from farms in (i) 2003, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2001. [172744]

Mr. Blunkett: In England and Wales, numbers of thefts of ammonium nitrate are not collected separately from other thefts.

Information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 27 April 2004, Official Report, column 857W

15 Nov 2004 : Column 1091W

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser were recorded by the police as having been stolen from farms in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003. [172746]

Mr. Blunkett: In England and Wales, numbers of thefts of ammonium nitrate are not collected separately from other thefts.

Information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 27 April 2004, Official Report, column 857W

Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are in place to assess the mental health condition of people detained within the Prison Service under provisions of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. [193661]

Paul Goggins: Those detained under the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act are currently held either at Belmarsh or Woodhill prisons.

All new arrivals receive a mental health assessment. Should this assessment give rise to any cause for concern, the prisoner is referred to mental health services. At any time, a prisoner may be referred to the prison mental health services. Any member of staff or the prisoner himself can make a referral.

ASBOs

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the need for a full rehearing at circuit court level when an antisocial behaviour order is made in the magistrates court; and if he will make a statement. [197558]

Mr. Leslie: I have been asked to reply.

Under section 79(3) of the Supreme Court Act 1981 appeals against antisocial behaviour orders made in the magistrates court are by way of re-hearing in the Crown court. We have received no representations on this matter. My Department is however considering the implications of the Brent judgment.

Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants) Act

Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been prosecuted under section 35 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants) Act 2004. [192790]

Mr. Browne: To date there have been no prosecutions under section 35 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants) Act 2004, which came into force on 22 September 2004. This is because the offence is not committed until a person has first been required to take specific action under section 35, and then has

15 Nov 2004 : Column 1092W

failed to comply with that request without reasonable excuse. As a result, the time period is too short for any cases to have reached the prosecution stage.

Information on Prosecutions is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", copies of which are available from the Library of the House and on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds.html.

Asylum Seekers

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of those who have been granted asylum in England and Wales received criminal convictions in 2003; and what proportion of the population of England and Wales received criminal convictions in 2003. [191271]

Mr. Browne: No data are available on the proportion of those granted asylum who have received a criminal conviction in 2003. However, under section 72 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 individuals who have committed a 'particularly serious crime' and pose 'a danger to the community' will lose their ability to rely on the Refugee Convention to remain in this country.

It is estimated that a maximum of 1 per cent. of the population of England and Wales (over the age of 10) received a criminal conviction in 2003 for a Standard List offence.

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for The Home Department how many asylum seekers are living in each borough in the greater London area. [191956]

Mr. Browne: Figures for asylum seekers (including dependants) supported in National Asylum Support Service (NASS) accommodation and those in receipt of subsistence only support from NASS in each local authority area in greater London as at the end of June 2004 are presented in the following tables. Corresponding figures for those not in receipt of NASS support are not available.

Numbers of asylum seekers placed in NASS accommodation and numbers who are in receipt of subsistence only support from NASS, are published on a quarterly and annual basis. The next publication covering the third quarter of 2004 (July to September) will be available on 16 November on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
Table showing asylum seekers in receipt of subsistence only support from NASS ⁽³⁸⁾^,⁽³⁹⁾^,⁽⁴⁰⁾ by local authority in greater London as at end of June 2004

Greater London local authority⁽⁴¹⁾ Total

Barking and Dagenham 370

Barnet 575

Bexley 70

Brent 1,275

Bromley 70

Camden 385

Croydon 605

Ealing 1,205

Enfield 1,120

Greenwich 430

Hackney 945

Hammersmith and Fulham 270

Haringey 1,675

Harrow 490

Havering 35

Hillingdon 430

Hounslow 570

Islington 555

Kensington and Chelsea 175

Kingston upon Thames 105

Lambeth 815

Lewisham 585

Merton 380

Newham 1,650

Redbridge 560

Richmond upon Thames 60

Southwark 760

Sutton 100

Tower Hamlets 270

Waltham Forest 900

Wandsworth 565

Westminster 305

Other —

Total 18,295

⁽³⁸⁾ Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5 and are provisional.
⁽³⁹⁾ Excludes cases where support has been ceased by the National Asylum Support Service.
⁽⁴⁰⁾ Asylum seekers receiving subsistence only support from the National Asylum Support Service. These asylum seekers live in their own accommodation.
⁽⁴¹⁾ Local authorities with fewer than 20 cases are grouped by region as "other".

15 Nov 2004 : Column 1093W

Table showing asylum seekers supported in NASS accommodation⁽⁴²⁾ ^, ⁽⁴³⁾ ^, ⁽⁴⁴⁾ by local authority in greater London as at end of June 2004

Greater London local authority⁽⁴⁵⁾ Dispersed Disbenifited ⁽⁴⁶⁾ Total

Barking and Dagenham 5 15 20

Barnet 20 50 70

Bexley — 5 5

Brent — 45 45

Bromley — 10 10

Camden 15 20 35

Croydon — 80 80

Ealing — 75 75

Enfield 140 115 255

Greenwich — 25 25

Hackney 45 65 115

Hammersmith and Fulham — 75 75

Haringey 310 160 470

Harrow — 50 50

Havering — 5 5

Hillingdon — 15 15

Hounslow — 15 15

Islington 40 80 120

Kensington and Chelsea — 5 5

Kingston upon Thames — 10 10

Lambeth — 45 45

Lewisham — 55 55

Merton — 15 15

Newham 30 115 145

Redbridge 10 45 55

Richmond upon Thames — 5 5

Southwark — 50 50

Sutton — 5 5

Tower Hamlets — 15 15

Waltham Forest 45 75 120

Wandsworth — 10 10

Westminster — 20 20

Total 660 1,375 2,035

⁽⁴²⁾ Figures have been rounded to nearest 5, with '*' = 1 or 2, and are provisional.
⁽⁴³⁾ Asylum seekers that have been allocated NASS accommodation and have been confirmed as having arrived in that accommodation.
⁽⁴⁴⁾ Excludes cases where support has been ceased by the National Asylum Support Service.
⁽⁴⁵⁾ Only those local authorities where NASS dispersed or disbenefitted cases are resident are shown.
⁽⁴⁶⁾ Disbenefited cases are cases which were previously supported under the main UK benefits system and have been moved onto NASS support. Some of these cases have remained in the original social services accommodation.

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Greater London local authority⁽⁴¹⁾	Total
Barking and Dagenham	370
Barnet	575
Bexley	70
Brent	1,275
Bromley	70
Camden	385
Croydon	605
Ealing	1,205
Enfield	1,120
Greenwich	430
Hackney	945
Hammersmith and Fulham	270
Haringey	1,675
Harrow	490
Havering	35
Hillingdon	430
Hounslow	570
Islington	555
Kensington and Chelsea	175
Kingston upon Thames	105
Lambeth	815
Lewisham	585
Merton	380
Newham	1,650
Redbridge	560
Richmond upon Thames	60
Southwark	760
Sutton	100
Tower Hamlets	270
Waltham Forest	900
Wandsworth	565
Westminster	305
Other	—
Total	18,295

Greater London local authority⁽⁴⁵⁾	Dispersed	Disbenifited ⁽⁴⁶⁾	Total
Barking and Dagenham	5	15	20
Barnet	20	50	70
Bexley	—	5	5
Brent	—	45	45
Bromley	—	10	10
Camden	15	20	35
Croydon	—	80	80
Ealing	—	75	75
Enfield	140	115	255
Greenwich	—	25	25
Hackney	45	65	115
Hammersmith and Fulham	—	75	75
Haringey	310	160	470
Harrow	—	50	50
Havering	—	5	5
Hillingdon	—	15	15
Hounslow	—	15	15
Islington	40	80	120
Kensington and Chelsea	—	5	5
Kingston upon Thames	—	10	10
Lambeth	—	45	45
Lewisham	—	55	55
Merton	—	15	15
Newham	30	115	145
Redbridge	10	45	55
Richmond upon Thames	—	5	5
Southwark	—	50	50
Sutton	—	5	5
Tower Hamlets	—	15	15
Waltham Forest	45	75	120
Wandsworth	—	10	10
Westminster	—	20	20
Total	660	1,375	2,035

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from which European countries asylum seekers entering the UK during the last 12 months originated. [193160]

Mr. Browne: Information on the date of entry into the UK, travel route, or the country of origin of asylum seekers is not available. Some applicants may travel clandestinely. The information available relates to numbers of applications made during the last 12 months and the nationalities of these applicants, and is given in the table.
Applications⁽⁴⁷⁾ received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, by nationality⁽⁴⁸⁾

Quarter

Nationality Q3 2003 Q4 2003 Q1 2004 Q2 2004 Total (July 2003-June 2004)

Europe

Albania 130 105 115 60 410

Czech Republic 25 10 15 * 50

Macedonia 10 5 10 0 25

Moldova 70 50 55 45 215

Poland 10 25 15 5 50

Romania 120 90 75 55 345

Russia 60 80 50 55 245

SAM⁽⁴⁹⁾ 180 115 85 80 460

Turkey 530 635 460 255 1,875

Ukraine 90 40 40 25 200

Other Former USSR 170 140 120 90 520

Other Former Yugo. 5 5 5 10 25

Europe other 15 30 10 5 60

Europe total 1,415 1,330 1,055 685 4,485

⁽⁴⁷⁾ Figures have been rounded to the nearest five with * = one or two.
⁽⁴⁸⁾ Provisional figures.
⁽⁴⁹⁾ Serbia and Montenegro (SAM) replaced Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) from 5 February 2003. SAM comprises the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Montenegro, and the Province of Kosovo (administered by the UN on an interim basis since 1999).

15 Nov 2004 : Column 1095W

	Quarter
Nationality	Q3 2003	Q4 2003	Q1 2004	Q2 2004	Total (July 2003-June 2004)
Europe
Albania	130	105	115	60	410
Czech Republic	25	10	15	*	50
Macedonia	10	5	10	0	25
Moldova	70	50	55	45	215
Poland	10	25	15	5	50
Romania	120	90	75	55	345
Russia	60	80	50	55	245
SAM⁽⁴⁹⁾	180	115	85	80	460
Turkey	530	635	460	255	1,875
Ukraine	90	40	40	25	200
Other Former USSR	170	140	120	90	520
Other Former Yugo.	5	5	5	10	25
Europe other	15	30	10	5	60
Europe total	1,415	1,330	1,055	685	4,485

Information on asylum applications by nationality is published in quarterly web pages and in the annual statistical bulletin "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom", copies of which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) starting salary for and (b) period of training given to Home Office initial decision makers in asylum applications are. [193262]

Mr. Browne: Initial decision makers of asylum applications in Croydon generally receive a starting salary of £18,011 plus £1,470 London Location Allowance (£19,481).

Initial training for asylum caseworkers consists of an 11 day training course which covers all aspects of asylum casework and how to deal with human rights allegations raised by asylum seekers. Immediately following this training, caseworkers move directly to a Mentoring Unit where they remain for at least another 11 days to develop their casework skills through the consideration of 'dummy' and subsequently 'live' cases.

After formal training and mentoring, caseworkers will continue to receive support (eg from more experienced colleagues and senior officers).

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